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Journal of Thai Traditional & Alternative Medicine Vol. 11 No. 2 May-August 2013 161

Abstract
Catgut Embedding Technique at Selected Acupoints in Patients with Chronic Obstruc-
tive Pulmonary Disease
Chairat Jaroensuk, Piyaporn Sittimart
Bandung Crown Prince Hospital, Ban Dung District, Udon Thani, 41190 Thailand
Corresponding author: chairat49@gmail.com
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has become a major public health problem
worldwide because of its high and increasing prevalence, morbidity and mortality. COPD is caused
by chronic and progressive irritation of the bronchi, bronchioles, lung parenchyma and pulmo-
nary vessels. COPD impacts on the patients to have asthmatic attack, chronic cough, excessive
sputum in the morning, chest discomfort and wheezing. The symptoms may get worse if not
treated properly.
To provide better care for COPD patients to improve quality of life and to relieve asthmatic
attacks, the Asthma Health Care Team at Bandung Crown Prince Hospital designed a project
entitled “Catgut Embedding in COPD”, using an alternative medical technique together with
western medicine, because of its convenience, low cost, higher efficacy and longer effectiveness,
compared with simple Chinese acupuncture. The new technique embedded Catgut 2/0 into 2
acupoints (Fengmen BL12 and Feishu BL13) twice, 3 months apart, on 50 COPD patients (34
males and 16 females) voluntarily participating in the project from March to October 2012. Among
the 50 cases, almost all had a history of tobacco smoking and 3 were current smokers. After the
intervention, 29 cases (58%) had an increased FEFR, by 11.07% of the predicted value of 197.62+62
L/m; 35 cases (70%) had an increased 6-minute walk distance of 235+75 metres (a 31.9% in-
crease); 11 cases had milder day-time asthmatic attacks; 19 cases had more severe night-time
asthmatic attacks; 11 cases had decreased emergency inhalations at home; the number of emer-
gency room visits dropped from 12 to 5; the number of hospitalizations dropped from 6 to 2; the
number of re-admissions within 28 days dropped from 5 to 2; and 25 cases had a higher COPD
assessment test (CAT) value.
In conclusion, catgut embedding for treating asthma among COPD patients has been found
to relieve inflammation of the bronchial airways, decrease asthmatic attacks and improve pa-
tients’ quality of life.
Key words: catgut embedding; acupoint; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease